In 2024, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) successfully distributed social pensions to over 190,000 underprivileged senior citizens in the Caraga region. According to a recent DSWD report, each senior received a monthly allowance of PHP1,000, amounting to PHP12,000 annually. The total disbursement for the year reached over PHP2.2 billion. The DSWD highlighted that the number of seniors assisted last year surpassed the set target by 103 percent. This initiative is backed by Republic Act 11916, known as the Social Pension for Indigent Seniors Act. Beneficiaries like 74-year-old Rosalinda Dandoy from Barangay R. Ecleo, Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands, expressed gratitude for the support, noting that the monthly stipend aids in meeting their food requirements. Similarly, 78-year-old Iluminada Goloran Poquita from Barangay Pagatpatan, Butuan City, relies on the pension to afford her essential medications and supplements for managing hypertension and other health conditions. The DSWD also acknowledged the crucial role played by local government units in facilitating the program.
